PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Oh we’ve seen diva receivers in Pittsburgh. First impressions and everything you hear about former Colts receiver Michael Pittman is something much different.
Traded to the Steelers last week, Pittman has the numbers to be self-centered. A couple of thousand-yard seasons, a 109-catch year and now getting a new contract worth nearly $60 million over three years.
Instead the 6’4”, 223-pounder sounds like something different, and from his first six seasons in the NFL, acts like something different.
“I mean, just being that guy who catches passes but also blocks his tail off, and that opens up just extra yards because maybe instead of a five-yard run play, it turns into a 30-yard run play, or turns into an explosive run, and then that sets up the pass game,” Pittman said Friday. “And just showing my teammates that I'm not here to just catch the ball and that I'm willing to do all of that dirty work too.”
Pittman said in Indy last year with Alex Pierce emerging, the addition of Penn State tight end Tyler Warren and Josh Downs, they all had their roles. His route-tree was narrowed, but said he embraced it to help the team win. Pittman’s job was to be the combat-catch, first down guy. His yards per reception decreased by nearly two yards, but he caught 72% of the passes thrown his way, that was 12th in the NFL.
“I mean that just comes with me just trying to show the quarterback that if he throws it, that I'll catch it, no matter what,” Pittman said. “And being able to fight for that football and, I feel like that just gives the quarterback confidence to throw you the ball and more targets leads to more yards and hopefully leads to more wins.”
The 28-year-old said he can play inside, outside, whatever Mike McCarthy wants. He even noticed, as he put, it the receiver room looks a little thin numbers-wise, so they could draft any style of receiver, and he can adapt.
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Spending his entire career with the Colts to this point, Pittman admitted to some sadness leaving Indianapolis. Now it’s turned to excitement, especially after his initial conversations with the new Steelers head coach. Pittman said he couldn’t share the ‘classified information’ of what he expects from the offense, but is ‘fired up about it’ and really feels like this will be the right place for him.
“I feel like Pittsburgh is my style of football, just really that tough, smash mouth, gritty (play) and I think that I just fit in perfectly here.”